<p>Dear Zgoldsmith23,</p>
<p>References to OSU and KSU are rare on CC, and, because of my background, caught my eye. While I don’t know much about OSU and Stillwater, other than that they are very nice places with all the appropriate amenities for encouraging academic and career success (as well as the full gamut of college-based social experiences), my husband and I grew up in Manhattan during the 1960s and 70s, where our parents taught at K-State. Both of us - and our respective siblings (of whom there are six) - attended K-State, though not in Vet Med. In the ranks of our family, we number architects, an architectural engineer, investment bankers (a CPA and a lawyer), a simultaneous translator in multiple languages (a Fulbright scholar), an agricultural economist, a graphic designer and a computer scientist. All of us return to Manhattan from time to time - those who don’t still live there - to visit family and friends.</p>
<p>Our daughter is a little younger than you, but also has been considering Vet. A few years ago, when we were in Manhattan, we rang the Department and asked if she might have a tour, which was unhesitatingly granted. I don’t know if you have visited these two schools - or, if now you have time to do so - but if our experience was anything to go by, I can only imagine that you would be graciously welcomed at each. </p>
<p>One of the issues raised during the course of our tour and ensuing discussion was the rapidly changing landscape of interests in practitioners. In an increasingly urbanizing world, evidently fewer and fewer students are pursuing large animal-based practices. You haven’t indicated whether you have a preference for, say, large animals or small animals, but that may be an example of an area you would care to discuss with both schools before making a decision.</p>
<p>Others will be better placed to address OSU, but I can say that the Flint Hills and prairies surrounding K-State and Manhattan provide both a compellingly beautiful, as well as a fascinating geological and historical environment. The campus, with its hallmark use of limestone, provides an exceptional aesthetic experience, too - even, maybe especially, for a non-architect like me. Academically, for the past 20+ years, K-State has produced more Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, Goldwater and Udall scholars than any other public school in the U.S. - among all universities, it ranks 6th in the combined number of these scholars behind Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton and Duke - with Brown, Chicago, MIT and Cornell (which also has a superb Vet School, as you would know) rounding out the Top 10. In many ways, K-State - and, dare I say, most of the Big 12 schools - ‘flies beneath the radar’ academically.</p>
<p>Though you have probably done so already, it seems to me that you should contact the Vet Departments at each school and arrange a convenient time to ask them your questions. Both schools likely will have Pre-Vet and/or Vet clubs and you might contact them to speak with students who might be able to help answer some of your questions, as well.</p>
<p>Best of luck with your decision.</p>